The population of Madison County in 2001 was 25,750 people. And Oglethorpe County was 12,635 folks.

The total population that benefits from the Madison-Oglethorpe Animal Shelter is over 38,385 people. If one considers that perhaps half of that number is children, that leaves more than 19,193 adults.

If each and every adult citizen in these two counties gave only one dollar, the shelter would have enough to continue operating into the near future — $20,000. If only half of these folks, 10,000, gave only one dollar, the shelter could also continue operating for a short while with the generous matching funds of $10,000 recently offered. If only one quarter of this population 5,000 gave at least two dollars each, with the recent offer, the shelter would not have to close right away. If only one eighth of this population (2,500) gave four dollars each, again, the shelter could survive a while longer. If only one sixteenth of the good folks of these counties 1,200 gave only eight dollars each, the shelter could survive.

It’s Christmas, folks! I doubt very seriously that God and Jesus feel at all honored by everybody spending money they don’t have on gifts to exchange with others, most of which are never used or appreciated and soon take up space in the landfill. All this ridiculousness only enriches the retail industry and stresses everyone out. I call it the Hallmark Syndrome. Of course, one does want to get something for the kids, but adults? At the very least, simply knock one person off your gift list and send them a card if you must. Then send $1, $2, $4, $8 or more to the shelter. That’s the kind of gift that God and Jesus would really understand!

Instead of giving to my loved ones this Christmas that You have blessed me with, I'm going to give the $8.00 I budgeted for Christmas gifts to the animal shelter. Surely You understand that instead of honoring the precious parents (they're adults if that changes anything) that You gave me, I need to give to the shelter. I sincerely appreciate Your understanding of the fact that I can actually do both.

People before animals is a very valid point. However, the services that the animal shelter provides is not formost about taking care of animals. It is about protecting people from dog packs that form when allowed to roam free and reproduce. Remember the elderly couple who met horrible deaths by way of a feral dog pack in two separate attacks? The shelter's main function is, sadly, euthanasia. No matter how hard they try to find homes, this is how the feral population is controlled. Though this costs money, it is far, far less than that required for most human-centered efforts like Advantage Behavioral Health and those charities mentioned. So people should abandon their gift lists entirely and support these people-centered efforts as well.

With utmost respect, Ms. Moss, I believe we should give as we feel led. I agree completely that places such as the shelter and Advantage need the financial support of those in our community. However, to direct people to abandon their gift lists in order to make a monetary donation to the shelter is scripturally inaccurate. Before you submit another letter about the types of giving that God and Jesus understand, perhaps you should read II Corinthians 9, specifically verse 7 which states, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” I will continue to cheerfully give as I feel led, which will include a donation to the shelter. But it will certainly not be because I abandoned or reduced my gift list or because you describe it as something “God and Jesus would really understand.”

I Firmly believe as your name implies (idonotunderstand)
that you don't understand and proably never will.

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